• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2015

Objective : Removal of blood from subarachnoid space with a lumbar drainage (LD) may decrease development of cerebral vasospasm. We evaluated the effectiveness of a LD for a clinical vasospasm and outcomes after clipping of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods : Between July 2008 and July 2013, 234 patients were included in this study. The LD group consisted of 126 patients, 108 patients in the non LD group. We investigated outcomes as follow : 1) clinical vasospasm, 2) angioplasty, 3) cerebral infarction, 4) Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at discharge, 5) GOS score at 6-month follow-up, and 6) mortality. Results : Clinical vasospasm occurred in 19% of the LD group and 42% of the non LD group (p<0.001). Angioplasty was performed in 17% of the LD group and 38% of the non LD group (p=0.001). Cerebral infarctions were detected in 29% and 54% of each group respectively (p<0.001). The proportion of GOS score 5 at 6 month follow-up in the LD group was 69%, and it was 58% in the non LD group (p=0.001). Mortality rate showed 5% and 10% in each group respectively. But, there was no difference in shunt between the two groups. Conclusion : LD after aneurysmal SAH shows marked reduction of clinical vasospasm and need for angioplasty. With this technique we have shown favorable GOS score at 6 month follow-up.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 2018

Objective: The SAFARI score was introduced to assess the risk of convulsive seizure during admission for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2017. This study was conducted to determine whether the SAFARI score derived from the afore-mentioned study could be applied to patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Korea. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who were diagnosed with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage from March 2013 to October 2017. Patients' age, sex, blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, Glasgow-Coma Scale, Hunt-Hess scale, modified Fisher grade, size of ruptured aneurysm, surgery type, transfusion, and SAFARI score were compared between the seizure and non-seizure groups. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves was calculated to evaluate the predictive ability for seizure during admission. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze predictive factors for seizure during admission. Results: A total of 220 patients were included. Ninety-seven (44.1%) were male and 123 (55.9%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 65.8 years old (range, 56-75). The area under the curve of the SAFARI score for predicting seizure was 0.813. The SAFARI score was the only significant predictor of seizure during admission, while other factors were not statistically significant upon logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The SAFARI score could be used for predicting seizure during admission in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.609-614
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• 2000

Objective : A retrograde clinical study was undertaken to determine the effect of opening lamina terminalis on the development of hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). We compared the incidence ratios of the development of hydrocephalus with and without opening lamina terminalis during operation after aneurysmal SAH. Patients and Methods : From Oct. 1996 to Sep. 1998, we performed 138 aneurysm surgery for 122 patients. In 98 cases, the lamina terminalis was opened to make direct cerebrospinal fluid flow from the third ventricle to subarachnoid space for prevention of delayed hydrocephalus. We compared the incidence of hydrocephalus after opening lamina terminalis to those without opened lamina terminalis. Results : In 95 cases, the hydrocephalus was noticed in 2 cases(2.2%). It is significantly lower in the group with opening lamina terminalis than the group without opening lamina terminalis(about 10%). Conclusion : It is simple and easy procedure to open the lamina terminalis during aneurysm surgery. With this maneuver, we could reduce the incidence of hydrocephalus after aneurysmal spontaneous SAH. Thus, it is considered that the opening lamina terminalis is one of the effective methods for preventing the development of hydrocephalus after aneurysmal spontaneous SAH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2007

Objective : Despite the widespread use of preoperative ventriculostomy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH], there is no general consensus regarding the risk of bleeding associated with its use before aneurysm repair. This study was conducted to define the efficacy and rebleeding risk of ventriculostomy in aneurysmal SAH. Methods : The authors reviewed 339 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH who were treated at our hospital between January 1998 and December 2004. Results : Preoperative ventriculostomy was performed on 73 patients for acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal SAH. The Hunt-Hess[H-H] grades of patients who underwent ventriculostomy were higher. Out of the 73 patients who underwent preoperative ventriculostomy, 58 [79%] demonstrated immediate clinical improvement after ventriculostomy. Of those same 73 patients 22 [30%] suffered aneurysmal rebleeding, whereas only 11 [4%] of the 266 patients who did not undergo ventriculostomy showed preoperative aneurysm rebleeding. The causes of rebleeding in the 22 patients who underwent ventriculostomy before surgery were related to the ventriculostomy procedure itself, subsequent cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] drainage, angiography and patient care procedures, such as endotracheal suction and nursing care. The mean time interval between SAH and surgery in the patients who underwent ventriculostomy was not statistically different from those who did not receive preoperative ventriculostomies [44.66 compared with 42.13 hours; p=0.73]. Conclusion : The preoperative ventriculostomy improved patients' clinical condition but increased the risk of rebleeding after aneurysmal SAH. When necessary, however, rapid change in transmural pressure during ventriculostomy must be avoided, careful management during ventricular drainage is needed, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible to prevent or reduce the incidence of rebleeding.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.153-156
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• 2007

Objective : Cerebral vasospasm is a devastating medical complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]. Therefore, prompt detection of vasospasms in aneurysmal SAH is important to the clinical outcome of the patient. For better prediction and effective management of vasospasms, identifying risk factors is essential. This study is aimed at evaluating the relationship between clinical hematologic values, especially white blood cell count, and cerebral vasospasms. Methods : A retrospective review was conducted on 249 patients with aneurysmal SAH who underwent surgical clipping [230 cases] or endovascular intervention [19 cases] between 2003 and 2005. The underlying clinical conditions assessed were leukocytosis, fever, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysm location, and direct clipping versus endovascular intervention. Results : Two hundred forty-nine patients were treated for aneurysmal SAH during this period. We selected 158 patients in Hunt and Hess grade I - III. Cases of infectious conditions, rebleeding and other surgical/clinical complications were excluded. Vasospasms occurred $7.0{\pm}3.1$ days after the onset of SAH. There were several independent predictors of vasospasm : Fisher grade III [p=0.002], fever within two weeks on admission [p<0.001], and a serum leukocyte count >$10.8{\times}10^3/mm^3$ on admission [p=0.018]. Conclusion : This study results indicate that leukocytosis and fever increase the risk of vasospasms. However, other known risk factors, such as hypertension and smoking, were not correlated with respect to predicting of cerebral vasospasm. Monitoring the serum leukocyte count may be a helpful and useful marker of vasospasms after aneurysmal SAH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of the ICAM-l levels in serum and CSF with cerebral vasospasm in early aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] patients. Methods : A prospective analysis was performed in thirty consecutive patients who underwent early surgery for intracranial aneurysmal SAH. The serum and CSF were obtained daily through the indwelling arterial lines and intraoperative ventriculostomy, or cisternal drain for 4 consecutive days after surgery. The ICAM-1 levels in serum and CSF samples were measured via quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The mean concentration of serum in aneurysmal SAH patients was 207.89ng/ml compared with 132.25ng/ml in controls. The mean concentration of CSF in aneurysmal SAH patients was 76.39ng/ml compared with 3.96ng/ml in controls. There were no significant differences between serum and CSF ICAM-1 level with regards to clinical characteristics in patients with aneurysmal SAH [P>0.05]. However, CSF ICAM-1 levels increased significantly in patients with vasospasm compared with those without vasospasm [P<0.05]. Conclusion : The major result of this study shows that ICAM-1 is increased in CSF after early aneurysmal SAH and that this increase in ICAM-1 has correlation with cerebral vasospasm. Further study is needed to determine whether ICAM-1 levels may be indicator in the pathogenesis of important events leading to cerebral vasospasm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2009

Objective : Intraoperative ventriculostomy is widely adopted to make the slack brain. However, there are few reports about hemorrhagic or parenchymal injuries after ventriculostomy. We tried to analyze and investigate the incidence of these complications in a consecutive series of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods : From September 2006 to June 2007, 43 patients underwent surgical clipping for aneurysmal SAH at our hospital. Among 43 patients, we investigated hemorrhagic or parenchymal injuries after intraoperative ventriculostomy using postoperative computed tomographic scan in 26 patients. After standard pterional craniotomy, ventriculostomy catheter was inserted perpendicular to the cortical surface along the bisectional imaginary line from Paine's point. Results : Hemorrhagic injuries were detected in 12 of 26 patients (46.2%). Mean systolic blood pressure during anesthesia was with in statistically significant parameter related to hemorrhage (p=0.006). On the other hand, parenchymal injuries were detected in 11 of 26 patients (42.3%). Female and the amount of infused mannitol during anesthesia showed statistically significant parameters related to parenchymal injury (p=0.005, 0.04, respectively). However, there were no ventriculostomy-related severe complications. Conclusion : In our series, hemorrhagic or parenchymal injuries after intraoperative ventriculostomy occurred more commonly than previously reported series in aneurysmal SAH patients. Although the clinical outcomes of complications are generally favorable, neurosurgeon must keep in mind the frequent occurrence of brain injury after intraoperative ventriculostomy in the acute stage of aneurysmal SAH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.526-535
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• 2019

Objective : While the risk of aneurysmal rebleeding induced by catheter cerebral angiography is a serious concern and can delay angiography for a few hours after a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), current angiographic technology and techniques have been much improved. Therefore, this study investigated the risk of aneurysmal rebleeding when using a recent angiographic technique immediately after SAH. Methods : Patients with acute SAH underwent immediate catheter angiography on admission. A four-vessel examination was conducted using a biplane digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system that applied a low injection rate and small volume of a diluted contrast, along with appropriate control of hypertension. Intra-angiographic aneurysmal rebleeding was diagnosed in cases of extravasation of the contrast medium during angiography or increased intracranial bleeding evident in flat-panel detector computed tomography scans. Results : In-hospital recurrent hemorrhages before definitive treatment to obliterate the ruptured aneurysm occurred in 11 of 266 patients (4.1%). Following a univariate analysis, a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression analysis revealed that modified Fisher grade 4 was a statistically significant risk factor for an in-hospital recurrent hemorrhage (p=0.032). Cerebral angiography after SAH was performed on 88 patients ${\leq}3$ hours, 74 patients between 3-6 hours, and 104 patients >6 hours. None of the time intervals showed any cases of intra-angiographic rebleeding. Moreover, even though the DSA ${\leq}3$ hours group included more patients with a poor clinical grade and modified Fisher grade 4, no case of aneurysmal rebleeding occurred during erebral angiography. Conclusion : Despite the high risk of aneurysmal rebleeding within a few hours after SAH, emergency cerebral angiography after SAH can be acceptable without increasing the risk of intra-angiographic rebleeding when using current angiographic techniques and equipment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.419-422
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• 2014

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterized by sudden-onset headache with focal neurologic deficit and prolonged but reversible multifocal narrowing of the distal cerebral arteries. Stroke, either hemorrhagic or ischemic, is a relatively frequent presentation in RCVS, but progressive manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction in a patient is seldom described. We report a rare case of a 56-year-old woman with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome consecutively presenting as cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral infarction. When she complained of severe headache with subtle cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage, her angiography was non-specific. But, computed tomographic angiography showed typical angiographic features of this syndrome after four days. Day 12, she suffered mental deterioration and hemiplegia due to contralateral intracerebral hematoma, and she was surgically treated. For recurrent attacks of headache, medical management with calcium channel blockers has been instituted. Normalized angiographic features were documented after 8 weeks. Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome should be considered as differential diagnosis of non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and repeated angiography is recommended for the diagnosis of this under-recognized syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 2016

A continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) can be helpful in detecting vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We describe a patient with an aneurysmal SAH whose symptomatic vasospasm was detected promptly by using a real-time cEEG. Patient was immediately treated by intraarterial vasodilator therapy. A 50-year-old woman without any significant medical history presented with a severe bifrontal headache due to acute SAH with a ruptured aneurysm on the anterior communicating artery (Fisher grade 3). On bleed day 6, she developed a sudden onset of global aphasia and left hemiparesis preceded by cEEG changes consistent with vasospasm. A stat chemical dilator therapy was performed and she recovered without significant neurological deficits. A real-time and protocol-based cEEG can be utilized in order to avoid any delay in detection of vasospasm in aneurysmal SAH and thereby improve clinical outcomes.